Leaving the Queen Salsa felt like everything around her has crumbled. She couldn't believe that few hours ago she has been walking on cloud nine feeling like the happiest girl in the world and now it feels like her world just imploded .
Tears rolled down her eyes as she trailed behind Sally. The pain was just too much to bear. It felt like her heart is being shredded into the pieces. The pain felt even worse than the time she fell down from a tree and broke her arm and that had hurt so much.
She should have known better and there is no one that she could blame her naivety other than herself. What had she expected? That the Queen will love her just like she did her.
Love?
The word jarred Salsa to her soul. She has never felt what she feels for the Queen ever in her life. She has read books back home that talked about love like it was all sunshine and rainbows.
In her stories the girl and her knight shinning armor are always happy and they get to have a happing ending. She has always dreamed of having love just like she has read in the books but what she is feeling right now is so far from what she read in books. Maybe it is because most of the stories involves a man and a woman. Maybe the gods are punishing her for having such abnormal thoughts about the Queen who is a woman just like her.
It sounds all wrong when she thinks it out loud. Maybe it is better the way things ended. It was wrong and maybe being far from the Queen will get her head back on track.
What she will do now is find a way to forget everything that happened.
Sally was hurrying toward the servants' quarters, she wanted to settle down the girl and get back to her duties of the day and that is serving her mistress.
The other ladies in waiting are always taking the best things for their mistresses especially the first concubine ladies in waiting so she needs to get to the kitchen and get what her mistress deserves.
She was half way to the building when she realized how far behind Salsa was. She paused to wait for the girl, an irritated look on her face.
She didn't have time for this. There is a lot waiting for her to get done. She needs to get her ladies laundry from the laundry room.
The irritation on her face dispersed like clouds when she saw the tears on the blonde's face when she got close.
" Hey! what is wrong? " she asked worriedly walking back wards to meet the girl.
Salsa had been walking with her head bowed and wasn't aware that Sally had been waiting for her until her voice spoke out.
Salsa quickly dried her eyes and looked up at the other servant with the fakiest reassuring smile she could mutter.
" Nothing, I am fine. " Her voice shook at the end of the words making her statement unbelievable to Sally.
The dark haired servant arched her brow at her.
" You don't cry for no reason, " she joked even though she wore a serious expression.
" Maybe something entered my eyes, " Salsa joked back, forcing a smile again.
Sally shook her head at the blonde. She was tempted to pursue the subject but this was the first time the blonde is relaxed enough in her presence to make a joke.
It is been weeks the blonde joined the Queen service but she is always keeping to herself, quiet and hardly relates with any of them. It felt nice to see her make a joke even if it was in a odd situation.
" Alright if you don't want to talk about it, I won't bug you about it, but I am here if you decides to talk. "
Salsa knew she will never take the other servant on her offer, because telling another soul what happened between her and the Queen will be a death sentence. All the same she appreciates the older girl for her kind offer.
" Thank you, I will keep that in mind, " she tried another smile in her direction, this time being more real than the last two, even though it was still colored with her sadness.
" You are welcome, now come along we need to get to your and get back to the Queen before she starts to look for us. "
The mention of the Queen made Salsa heart squeeze in pain. It is going to be a while before hearing the Queen's name stops triggering pain in her heart.
The two servants continued on their way only to be met on the central corridor by the First Concubine and her daughter.
Salsa stiffened, and became nervous. The last time she crossed path with the woman and her daughter things hadn't ended well.
She looked down to the floor and drew closer to Sally. She didn't want any trouble.
" My Lady, " Sally curtseyed and walked past the First Concubine and her entourage. Salsa followed suit in a timid greeting, doing her best not to look in the direction of the girl.
She still hasn't figured out why the young girl had to lie against her.
They were a few yards away from the First Concubine when the woman spoke to stop them.
" Wait! " she called out.
Sally and Salsa stiffened and then turned to face the other woman with a bravado they weren't feeling. They know that the woman in front of them doesn't like their mistress and so they didn't want to deal much with her to avoid bringing trouble to their mistress.
They stood rigidly waiting for the woman to say the reason why she stopped them.
" My daughter Sulang has something to say to you, " Su said looking in the direction of the blonde.
Salsa looked up in shock. " Me! " she pointed a finger at herself with a skeptical look toward the said child. Even Sally looked toward the girl.
She looked sullen, like she was being forced to do something against her will.
" Mother, do I have too, " Sulang whined looking toward the girls like they are ants underneath her feet.
Sally who had what the girl did to the blonde felt like spanking her. She obviously needs it because the girl is a spoilt brat.
" Yes, you have to, " Su commanded her daughter, her voice hard. After the King decided to investigate the incident that happened between her daughter, the blonde servant and the Queen she decided to come clean before everything is revealed and when the King visited her last night because the Queen had not been available, something about not feeling to well, she had told him everything and tried to calm him down before he could get angry with a promise that their daughter will apologize to the young Queen and her servant.
She couldn't help wondering what is going on between the servant and the new Queen that the young woman will come to her rescue the way she did.
" Sorry, " Sulang spat out as if she couldn't be bothered, not looking sorry at all.
Salsa who wanted the whole thing to be over and done with was ready to accept the insulting apology and move on her way but the First Concubine has another opinion.
" Sulang apologize properly or I will go to the temple to pray for hours, " Su threatens her daughter. She needed to make it look like she was disciplining her daughter so that the King will drop the whole matter.
The young girl imagined kneeling in the huge temple on her knees for hours just praying. The boredom was terrifying enough to force out a proper apology from her lips.
" I am sorry for lying against you the other day, please forgive me, " she bowed respectfully toward Salsa.
Salsa relaxed a bit at the sincere apology from the girl to accept it. " Is alright, " she told the girl kindly with a soft smile.
Su smiled fakely toward the blonde. " Thank you for forgiving my daughter, " she said.
Salsa and Sally bowed and then watched as the woman, her daughter and her entourage continued on.
" That woman terrifies the hell out of me, " Sally blurted out shivering dramatically.
Salsa laughed. " Me too, " she says softly and the two continued on their way, laughing.
***********
" So how are you feeling? " The king asked his Queen as they walked toward the carriage waiting for them in front of the Palace.
The Kingdom is holding one of its hunting season and they were all going over to the hunting grounds.
Most of the nobles of the kingdom are going to be there and their sons will be competing in the hunt.
" What?! " Onyx answered in an absent minded tone that showed she hasn't been paying attention to what the King has been saying over the past few minutes they started their walk. She has been distracted because she keeps looking back toward the blonde servant.
The girl hasn't looked in her direction since she rejoined her along with the other of her two servants. Onyx knows that it is for the best but she couldn't help being bothered by the cold flat look in the girl's eyes. She was missing the sparkle that made those green eyes irresistible.
King noticed his Queen looking back here and then and wondered what has her attention at the back. When he saw the blonde he looked back at his beautiful Queen.
" Is the servant not okay? " he asked mistaking her looks as one of displeasure.
The question finally snapped Onyx attention away from the blonde to focus on the King.
" No she is perfect, " her tone made her words ring more deeper revealing her feelings even though it flew right pass the King who seems to be oblivious.
The King nodded his head, pleased that the young Queen was still pleased with his gift for her. Which shows that he has done the right thing gifting her the blonde. He had wanted to take the blonde for himself, because the young thing was beautiful, but he is glad he gave it to his Queen.
He helped her into the carriage before repeating his question as the carriage started on its way.
There were other carriages lined up behind theirs carrying the concubines and their ladies in waiting.
Sally, Mei, and Salsa along with the guards walked on foot following the carriage.
" I feel better, " Onyx answered the King with a straight face, even though her inside flushed hot as she recalled what she was really doing last night. Between her legs throbbed at the memory of the blonde stroking her heated flesh. Keeping away from the girl was going to be difficult.
The King stared at his Queen. He had not expected the girl to be so frail. Yes she looks very slim but from what he learned of her she was a strong woman so he is a little surprise at the number of times she has fallen sick. Maybe she is still getting used to the palace he tried to rationalize.
He continued to watch the beautiful young woman across from him with desire, he couldn't wait for the night to come for him to have her again. She was feeling alright now so there will be no excuse. This time there will be no drinking so he can remember. He still has no memory of their first time and even though that is weird, he blames it on the too much drink he drank that night.
Onyx stiffened under the King's intense hungry looks. She could feel his desire like they are physical fingers caressing her skin. She knows what is coming tonight, and even though she abhors the thought of it she can't escape it. She hates to agree with her mother on anything but on this she was right. She can't keep avoiding her matrimonial duties.
Hopefully the memories of being with the blonde will see her through the ordeal.
When the carriage reached the center of the forest where the hunt will be taking place it stopped and the servants rushed around to place what the King and the Queen will use and come down.
The King was the first to get down and then he turned around with adored look on his face to help his beautiful Queen down. He felt so proud to have someone as beautiful as the young woman be his wife and he can't wait for the young woman to start giving him sons.
The other Concubines came down from their carriages with the help of their servants. Su looked toward the King and the Queen as everyone fawned around the younger woman an envious look in her eyes which she masked immediately before anyone could glimpse it.
She made her way toward them with the intension of having words with the young Queen.
" Your Majesty, your highness, " she greeted them both when she joined them. Even though it was like a thorn was piercing through her skin at the thought of bowing to the younger woman she did because she didn't want to be rude in front of the King.
Onyx stared down at the First Concubine with a curious look in her eyes wondering what the coniving woman is up to this time.
" I am here to apologize to you, your highness, " Su said with a fakily sweet smile.